Thursday, April 19, 2007

My goodness that was an interesting class today!

I'm sorry I talked more than I had intended to in the class, but everyone got a chance to say something, and several people had to work on what they were going to say. I think everyone learned some new vocabulary that may come in handy later. So in general it was a productive class. I hope we have more like it. Please try to speak up more and interact more directly with other students. It should become easier over the course of the class, until by the end you won't need me to hold a class. In fact, when I am in the UK you will have to do it without me. (--);

Everyone said they wanted to debate something in the class but they couldn't decide what to debate. Either it has to be something that the class disagrees on, with a fairly even split, or you have to agree to take a position you don't really agree with and defend it in the debate. It's up to you students what you want to debate, but you have to agree on a topic.

This week's topic, therefore, is to decide on a topic of debate for the class. This is in addition to your regular groups that will report as already planned. In fact, the debate groups will probably be very different from the report groups that you are already in, but that will give you a chance to interact in English with more people from the class.

BTW, here is the video of the Japanese political assassination that I mentioned:

No comments: